Effects of Pleconaril Nasal Spray on Common Cold Symptoms and Asthma Exacerbations Following Rhinovirus Exposure (Study P04295)

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Rhinovirus; Asthma; Common Cold; Picornavirus Infection
• Interventions: Drug: Placebo to Pleconaril; Drug: Pleconaril

• Registration Number: NCT00394914
• Lead Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Brief Summary

This is a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of pleconaril nasal spray in preventing asthma exacerbation and common cold symptoms in asthmatic participants exposed to picornavirus respiratory infections. Participants will be assigned treatment with pleconaril or placebo nasal spray for 7 days (14 doses). Participants will be followed for an additional 14 days.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-08
• Study First Submitted: 2006-10-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-10-31
• Study First Posted: 2006-11-02
• Primary Completion: 2007-04
• Study Completion: 2007-04
• Results First Submitted: 2013-08-27
• Results First Submitted QC: 2013-08-27
• Results First Posted: 2013-10-31
• Status Verified: 2015-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-06-23
• Last Update Posted: 2015-07-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 311

Inclusion Criteria

• Must be ≥6 to ≤65 years of age, of either sex, and of any race, with a diagnosis of asthma at least 2 years prior to the Screening Visit.

• Must have a history of two or more upper respiratory infection-induced asthma exacerbations in the past 24 months.

  • For participants 6 to 17 years of age, exacerbations for the purpose of the inclusion criteria, will be defined as:
  • An increase of four or more puffs of a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) per day for at least 3 consecutive days, or
  • An increase of two or more nebulizations of a SABA per day for at least 3 consecutive days, or
  • Documentation of morning (AM) peak flow drops >20% per day for at least 2 consecutive days, or
  • Documentation of AM peak flow drops of ≥50% for at least 1 day.

• Must have been on a stable dose of any asthma medication (including immunotherapy) for at least 1 month prior to the Screening Visit.

• Must have a pre-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥50% predicted at the Screening Visit, when all prohibited medications have been withheld for the specified interval.

• If a reversibility test has not been performed within the previous 24 months, a participant, ≥17 years of age, must demonstrate an increase in absolute FEV1 of ≥12%, with an absolute volume increase of at least 200 mL. A participant <17 years of age, must demonstrate an increase in absolute FEV1 ≥12%.

• Must cohabit with at least one other person (family member, roommate).

• A participant (or the participant's legal representation) must be willing to give written informed consent and be able to adhere to dose and visit schedules.

• Must be free of any clinically significant disease, other than asthma, which would interfere with study evaluation.

• Must be in general good health, as confirmed by routine clinical and laboratory testing. All laboratory tests (Complete Blood Count, blood chemistries, and urinalysis) and elctrocardiograms must be within normal limits or clinically acceptable to the investigator/sponsor.

• Female of childbearing potential must be using a medically acceptable, adequate form of birth control.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Had an upper or lower respiratory illness or exhibits signs and/or symptoms of a respiratory illness in the 4 weeks prior to the Screening Visit.
• Received any treatment more recently than the indicated washout period prior to Screening or who must continue to receive treatment that is prohibited.
• Smoker or ex-smoker and has smoked within the previous 5 years of Screening or has had a cumulative smoking history >10 pack years.
• Allergy/sensitivity to the study drug or its excipients.
• Female who is breast-feeding, pregnant, or intends to become pregnant.
• Used any investigational drugs within 30 days of Screening.
• Participating in any other clinical study.
• Part of the staff personnel directly involved with this study.
• Family member of the investigational study staff.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo to Pleconaril	Participants will receive placebo nasal spray 4 sprays per nostril BID for 1 week during the Treatment Period for a total of 14 doses.
Pleconaril	Pleconaril	Participants will receive Pleconaril nasal spray 4 sprays per nostril twice daily (BID), 24 mg/day for 1 week during the Treatment Period for a total of 14 doses.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Participants With Asthma Exacerbations Together With Rhinovirus-Positive PCR	From time of exposure to index case to end of Follow-up Period (21 days)	Asthma exacerbation was defined as a participant having one of the following: 1. 0.5 point or more increase in the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) from Baseline at Day 7. The ACQ is a validated instrument containing 7 questions to assess asthma control which incorporates symptoms, beta-agonist use, and spirometry. Participants recall their experiences during the previous 7 days and respond to each question using a 7-point scale. The items are equally weighted and the ACQ score is the mean of the 7 items and therefore ranges between 0 (well controlled) and 6 (extremely poorly controlled). The ACQ completed on the day of exposure was the Baseline ACQ.; 2. Any change to asthma treatment as prescribed by a physician, unscheduled contact (either office visit or phone contact where medication was changed for asthma symptoms), emergency room visit, or hospitalization.; PCR+ was defined as positive or equivocal outcome of the picornavirus test any time after randomization.
Percentage of Participants With Rhinovirus PCR-Positive Colds	From time of exposure to index case to end of Follow-up Period (21 days)	The common cold was defined as moderate or severe rhinorrhea and at least one other cold symptom of moderate to severe intensity for at least 1 day, together with rhinovirus-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), after a participant had temporal exposure to an index case. PCR+ was defined as positive or equivocal outcome of the picornavirus test any time after randomization.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in PM	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	PEF is a person's maximum speed of expiration as measured with a peak flow meter and was measured twice daily in the morning (AM) and evening (PM). Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	The ACQ is a validated instrument containing 7 questions to assess asthma control which incorporates symptoms, beta-agonist use, and spirometry. Participants recall their experiences during the previous 7 days and respond to each question using a 7-point scale. The items are equally weighted and the ACQ score is the mean of the 7 items and therefore ranges between 0 (well controlled) and 6 (extremely poorly controlled). The ACQ completed on the day of exposure was the Baseline ACQ. Pooled standard deviations (SDs) and least square (LS) means were calculated based on an analysis of variates (ANOVA) model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	FEV1 is the volume of air that can forcibly be blown out in one second, after full inspiration. Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in AM	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	PEF is a person's maximum speed of expiration as measured with a peak flow meter and was measured twice daily in the morning (AM) and evening (PM). Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Total Cold Symptom Score	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	Participants entered their cold symptoms into an e-diary twice daily beginning at the Screening Visit through completion of the study. The total cold symptom score was the sum of 6 scores for rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, cough, score throat, malaise, and myalgia. Each symptom is scored as follows: 0 = none-sign/symptom is not present, 1 = mild-sign/symptom noticeable but did not bother me or interfere with my normal daily activities/sleep, 2 = moderate- sign/symptom annoying and may have interfered with my normal daily activities/sleep, or 3 = severe-symptom very uncomfortable and interfered with most or all of my normal daily activities/sleep. The total score ranges from 0 to 18, with increasing scores reflecting more severe colds. Baseline values were defined as the average of the last seven assessments prior to randomization (before exposure to an index case). Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Total Asthma Symptom Score	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	Participants entered their asthma symptoms into an e-diary twice daily beginning at the Screening Visit through completion of the study. The total asthma symptom score was the sum of 3 scores for wheeze, cough, and dyspnea. Each symptom is scored as follows: 0 = none-sign/symptom is not present, 1 = mild-sign/symptom noticeable but did not bother me or interfere with my normal daily activities/sleep, 2 = moderate- sign/symptom annoying and may have interfered with my normal daily activities/sleep, or 3 = severe-symptom very uncomfortable and interfered with most or all of my normal daily activities/sleep. The total score ranges from 0 to 9, with increasing scores reflecting more severe asthma. Baseline values were defined as the average of the last seven assessments prior to randomization (before exposure to an index case). Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Short-acting Beta-Agonist (SABA) Rescue Medication Usage	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	SABAs such as albuterol were permitted during the study as rescue medication and required a 6-hour washout prior to each visit. Participants entered their asthma medication use into an e-diary twice daily beginning at the Screening Visit through completion of the study. The Baseline for diary symptoms was the average of the last seven assessments prior to Randomization. Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.
LS Mean Change From Baseline in Asthma-Related Sleep Interference	Baseline through the Final Visit (Day 21)	Participants entered their asthma-related changes in sleep into an e-diary once daily (in the morning) beginning at the Screening Visit through completion of the study. Changes from Baseline in asthma-related sleep interference were determined using the following question: How did cold and asthma symptoms interfere with your sleep? The question was scored as follows: 0 = None, no interference with sleep at all, 1 = Mild, not annoying or troublesome, adequate amount of sleep, 2 = Moderate, interfered somewhat with sleep, woke up a few times, average sleep, 3 = Severe, substantially interfered with sleep, poor sleep. The Baseline for diary symptoms was the average of the last seven assessments prior to Randomization. Pooled SDs and LS means were calculated based on an ANOVA model.